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During this season of award shows, the medical community won’t be left out.  One dermatology professional association, the American Contact Dermatitis Society has named sulfites the Allergen of the Year for 2024.

Sulfites as a family of chemicals can be present in foods, drinks, cosmetics, and therapeutic skin creams both over-the-counter and prescription.  When sulfites touch the skin in susceptible individuals, they can induce and repeated trigger local allergic reactions that you recognize as rashes, tiny blisters, and good old fashioned red bumps that can be devilishly itchy.  This type of allergic reaction forms slowly snd usually does not lead to hives or life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.  The reactions most commonly occur on the hands and then on the

chest, abdomen, back, and extremities.

The sulfite family includes sodium disulfite, sodium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, and potassium sulfite.  These chemicals serve as preservatives and therapeutic antioxidants and may be found in antifungal and steroid creams, ointments, and solutions as well as in some nasal sprays and drops.

Foods have sulfites too, and they include dried fruits, bottled lemon and lime juices, wines, molasses, grape juice, and pickled cocktail onions.

So…. If you have developed any of these skin reactions and are mystified about their causes, think sulfite. Check the active and inactive ingredients listed on the labels of anything you put on your skin.  If you are suspicious, you can do your own skin test by putting the product in question on a bandaid and placing that on your skin.  If you detect a little red square after a day or so, think sulfite allergy and stop using the product in question.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/sulfites-selected-acds-allergen-year-2024a10004hd

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